Coastal Rainforest Safaris, Port Hardy, British Columbia
Coastal Wolves Four days in their territory
Three nights camped on an island where wolves roam the beaches. Eight guests at most, two guides, and no promises we cannot keep.
Wolves are wild. We do not guarantee you will see one.
- 5 nights: 3 at camp, 2 in Port Hardy
- From Port Hardy
- 4 to 8 guests
- Late May to late September
Why these wolves
They hunt the beach, so we look for them there, on land and by boat
The wolves of this coast live on the shoreline as much as in the forest. Most of what they eat comes out of the sea: clams, barnacles, salmon, and now and then a seal or a sea otter. The place to look for them is the shoreline. We check several beaches by boat and sit quietly on land where the sign is freshest, and we find wolves at higher tides as well as low ones.
They are smaller than inland wolves, with red and grey through the coat, and they are found only along this stretch of coast between Vancouver Island and southwest Alaska. The islands we visit lie in the traditional territory of the T̓łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la First Nation, off the north tip of Vancouver Island, a boat ride from Port Hardy.
Before each trip our guides scout where the wolves have been moving. Even so, these are wild animals on their own schedule. Some groups see wolves on the first afternoon. Some hear them call from the trees for three days and see one on the last morning from the boat. While it has not happened yet, it is possible some trips may not see them at all. We tell you this plainly because it is the truth of the trip.
- 4
- days in wolf territory
- 8
- guests at most
- 2
- guides on every trip
- 3
- nights at camp
The trip
Day by day
The order of days can change with wildlife, weather and sea conditions. Your guides make that call.
Day 1
Port Hardy
Make your own way to Port Hardy and check in at the Kwa'lilas Hotel. At 7:00 pm we meet at our office for the orientation: the plan for the next four days, your flotation suit fitting, the packing check and the waiver.
- Meals
- Meals: none included tonight
- Where you sleep
- Night at the Kwa'lilas Hotel
Day 2
Out to the islands
Pick-up at the hotel at 6:30 am, suit up at the office and leave the dock at 7:00 am. The morning is spent working the shorelines by boat. We reach camp mid-afternoon, settle into the tents, then, depending on what gives the best chance that day, either find a spot on land to sit and wait or look for wolves by boat until the light goes.
- Meals
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Where you sleep
- Night at the island camp
Days 3 and 4
Sit, watch, move
A morning at a viewing spot, quiet and still. In the afternoon we go by boat: either along other shorelines, or across to another island with its own places to sit and wait. Where we go depends on tracks, scat, calls and what the guides saw last.
- Meals
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Where you sleep
- Nights at the island camp
Day 5
Last morning, then home
One more session for wolves, on land or from the boat, or a run for other wildlife. We pack out and are back at the Kwa'lilas Hotel in Port Hardy by 4:00 pm.
- Meals
- Meals: breakfast and lunch
- Where you sleep
- Night at the Kwa'lilas Hotel
The camp
Canvas tents, cedar platforms and the sound of the water
Our camp sits on an island in the wolves' range. Canvas bell tents stand on raised cedar platforms joined by a boardwalk, and there is an on-demand hot shower. It is comfortable, not luxurious, and that is the point: you are sleeping where the wolves walk.
- Tents
- Roomy 3 metre canvas bell tents, raised off the ground on cedar platforms and connected by a boardwalk, with cots, thick sleeping mats, warm sleeping bags and camp chairs
- Bags
- A waterproof duffel for your clothes and personal items, provided
- Food
- Hearty, healthy meals cooked at camp. Dietary needs are catered for with notice. Snacks, hot and cold drinks through the day
- Washing
- Fresh water on demand and a hot shower at camp. An outhouse at camp, toilets on the boats
- Scent
- Skip strong soaps, deodorants and perfume; the wolves notice
- Signal
- No cell coverage or internet at camp or on the viewing beaches. Guides carry VHF radios and satellite communications for emergencies
- Drinks
- Bring a water bottle (we have spares). We do not serve alcohol; you are welcome to bring your own for the evening
The supporting cast
Between wolf sessions, everything else
Between wolf sessions we go looking for the rest: sea otters in the kelp, Steller sea lions on the haul-outs, humpbacks, orca, bald eagles. The run between Port Hardy and the camp is wildlife time too.
- Sea otters
- Humpback whales
- Steller sea lions
- Orca
- Bald eagles
- Black bear, with luck
The boats
10 metre Titan RHIBs
Our boats are custom 10 metre rigid-hull inflatables built by Titan Boats on Vancouver Island, the same hulls used by search and rescue and law enforcement. Twelve seats on shock-absorbing pedestals, a toilet on board, and room to stand and scan.
We provide two-piece flotation suits, warm hats, goggles and binoculars. Getting on and off at the beach means climbing a short ladder.
RHIBs are not suitable for anyone with a history of back or neck injury, recent surgery, or who is pregnant. Minimum age for this trip is 15; anyone 18 and under travels with a parent or guardian.
Who takes you
Your Coastal Rainforest Safaris guides
Two guides from our team travel with every group, so there are two sets of eyes on the shoreline and two people to run the camp.
Our guides scout these islands year round, so each group starts on the most recent sign of where the wolves have been moving, not on a guess.
Dates and price
Small-group departures through the season
Late May to late September. Each trip is 4 days and 3 nights at camp, with a hotel night in Port Hardy before and after.
Price
From CA$7,500 per person, double occupancy, plus 5% GST (2027 rate)
Single occupancy CA$9,000 per person, plus 5% GST (2027 rate)
Pricing is confirmed on enquiry.
Minimum 4 guests, maximum 8. Minimum age 15.
Enquire about datesDates
We set dates with private groups first, then open scheduled small-group departures. Ask us about dates.
Booking terms
- Book by email or phone; this trip is not sold online.
- A 25% deposit holds your seats. It is refundable for 72 hours after booking, then non-refundable.
- The balance is due 60 days before departure. Cancel with 60 or more days' notice and everything above the deposit is refunded; inside 60 days the full amount is non-refundable.
- We strongly recommend travel insurance with cancellation and interruption cover.
What is included
Included, and not
Included
- Two nights at the Kwa'lilas Hotel in Port Hardy (first and last nights)
- Three nights at the island camp: tent, cot, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, camp chair
- A waterproof duffel for the trip
- All meals from breakfast on Day 2 to lunch on Day 5, plus snacks and hot and cold drinks
- Flotation suit, warm hat, goggles and binoculars
- Two guides and all boat travel
- Orientation evening and waiver briefing
Not included
- Getting to and from Port Hardy
- Meals on Day 1 and dinner on Day 5
- Alcohol
- GST (5%)
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Airport and hotel transfers (local taxis run in Port Hardy)
- Rubber boots, rain gear and personal kit (we send a packing list when you book)
Getting to Port Hardy
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies Vancouver (YVR south terminal) to Port Hardy in about an hour and a quarter. By road it is about 6 hours from Victoria, 4 and a half from Nanaimo and 2 and a half from Campbell River. Port Hardy is also the Inside Passage ferry terminus from Prince Rupert and Bella Coola.
Questions
Straight answers
Will we see wolves?
Likely, but never guaranteed. Our guides scout the area before your arrival, and we spend four days exploring prime wolf habitat to give you the best possible chance of an encounter. However, wolves are wild animals, and sightings can never be guaranteed. While most groups have the opportunity to see wolves, some may not. If seeing a wolf is essential to your enjoyment of the trip, this experience may not be the right fit for you.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable walking a couple of kilometres over uneven, wet and slippery ground, climbing a short ladder from the beach to the boat, and sitting still and quiet for hours. The RHIBs are not suitable with a history of back or neck injury, recent surgery, or pregnancy.
What is the weather like?
Fog, rain, sun and cool wind, sometimes all in one day. Layers of wool or synthetics, not cotton, and proper rain gear in darker colours. We send a full packing list when you book.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, 15. Anyone 18 and under travels with a parent or guardian.
Where do we sleep and wash?
Nights one and five are spent at the Kwa'lilas Hotel in Port Hardy, while nights two, three, and four are spent in comfortable canvas bell tents at our remote island camp. The camp also features an on-demand hot water shower for guests to enjoy.
Will I have phone signal?
No. There is no cell coverage or internet at camp or on the viewing beaches. Your guides carry VHF radios and satellite communications for emergencies.
Is this a photography trip?
It suits photographers well: long sits, low angles from the beach, and a boat that can hold position. Bring spare batteries, cards and a rain cover. It also suits anyone happy to wait quietly for a wild animal.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry below or email us. We confirm dates, price and availability by reply, then hold your seats with a 25% deposit.
Enquire
Ask about dates
Tell us when you would like to travel and how many of you there are. We reply by email with available departures, confirmed pricing and the next steps.